Cholera delays schools progress
2005-09-29 21:54
Bissau - Authorities have postponed the start of the school year in this impoverished West African nation to prevent a cholera epidemic from spreading.
More than one percent of the country's 1.5 million people had been infected with cholera. The country had reported 16 424 cases, with 278 deaths, since June 1.
A senior education ministry official said: "It is very dangerous to gather children in school at this moment."
Children were scheduled to start school on October 3, but Fonta said public schools would not open. He did not say when school would open.
Fonta said: "I would like to ask owners of private schools to delay the beginning of the school year by a few weeks."
According to the World Health Organisation, more than 31 000 people were infected with cholera in nine west African countries between June and late August amid heavy rains and flooding.
Epidemics of cholera, transmitted by infected water, were linked to poor hygiene, overcrowding, inadequate sanitation and unsafe water. West Africa was home to some of the world's poorest countries.
- AP